National Bonds and Arab Women Authority aims to empower women in the UAE to make better investment decisions

A joint panel discussion was held by the Arab Women Authority, a prominent NGO, and National Bonds, the nation’s leading savings and investment company focused on empowering women in the MENA region, and on the importance of investing in the UAE, with a special concern on women. Bringing together the leading experts from the finance and real estate sectors, the panel served as a strong platform to discuss the significance of investment in creating a secure financial future for women in the nation.

A sudden rise in female investors is being experienced in the UAE, with more women taking an interest in developing their financial portfolios. According to recent data from the Dubai Land Department (DLD), about 26,698 women have invested in real estate investments, contributing over AED 58.8 billion to the growing sector. Women now in Dubai currently own 30% of the property, according to a recent Dubai Government study. Almost 23,000 enterprise businesses owned by Emirati women are valued at AED 50 billion in the country.

National Bonds and the Arab Women Authority have decided to further empower women by promoting financial independence through saving and diversifying investments. After recognizing the contribution of women to society and its economy, the panel decided this. It was a testament to the commitment of the two entities to building the financial strength of women in the UAE.

The panel was held at the ballroom of The Palace, The Old Town in Dubai was led by Mohammed Qasim Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of National Bonds, Rehab Lootah, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of National Bonds, Ahmad Almsaeed, Chief Executive Officer of Investment and Treasury at National Bonds Group, Mohammed Al-Dulaimi, Secretary-General of the Arab Women Authority, Dr. Lina Abu Bakr, Executive Director of the Arab Women Authority, and Dr. Maysoon Essa, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Women Authority, along with Mohanad Alwadiya, Chief Executive Officer of Harbor Real Estate, and Mohamed Hareb Al Falahi, Founder of Royal Liwan Real Estate, and moderated by Mirhan Mustafa Dosouqi, TV presenter with Noor Dubai.

More than 150 high-ranking officials from UAE consulates and firms participated in the panel which majorly focused on the uncertainties in the field of investment and the developing need for more women to take part in financial decision-making.

Mohammed Qasim Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer at National Bonds looked into the current investment outlook in the UAE and said: “It is encouraging to see the number of investors grow in the country, especially female investors. However, rising inflation has impacted asset pricing, which has compelled investors to rethink traditional approaches and review assets that offer long-term security and competitive returns. As was highlighted in today’s discussion, many opportunities, especially in real estate, offer secure avenues for people to invest and grow their wealth."

Rehab Lootah, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer at National Bonds, also stated: “Investing is crucial for economic development, and women, in particular, play a vital role in the advancement and prosperity of communities. Empowering them with financial education and investment avenues is essential for their financial security, as well as that of the country. Today, 50% of National Bonds’ Sukuk holders are women, and we see this number growing rapidly. Our goal is to equip women with the necessary knowledge and tools to bridge the gender investment gap, inspiring them to dream big and reach new heights. Because when women thrive, society thrives."

Executive Director of the Arab Women Authority, Dr. Lina Abu Bakr, added, “We were delighted to participate in this insightful discussion on investment opportunities for women with National Bonds. Encouraging women’s involvement in investing and making them more financially savvy is something the Arab Women’s Authority is deeply passionate about. Our goal is to work with National Bonds to create a more inclusive and level-playing field for women in the UAE and Arab world when it comes to investing and managing finances. The beautiful thing about the UAE’s success is that it inspires people to think bigger, and better. That’s what we want for the women of this nation.’’

A Saxo Bank report shows that the number of women investors has shown a rapid increase in the region which highlighted an increase of 18% in UAE over the previous five years but when compared to males, they are very less in the count. According to the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, only 21% of women invest in the UAE, whereas men invested 79%.

National Bonds and Arab Women Authority have come up together and decided to start a joint mission for providing financial literacy and inclusion. Together, the organizations are establishing a new benchmark for the sector as they strive to inform, enlighten, and motivate women to reach their financial goals.